Murtha speaks, people listen

November 17, 2005

Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) is probably not quite as famous as some of his congressional colleagues, but his reputation and stature in Congress, particularly on military issues, is unquestioned. A former Marine, Murtha is a decorated Vietnam veteran. Ideologically, he rarely draws right-wing fire because of his centrist voting record that always backs the military.

On defense issues, he’s generally considered one of the biggest hawks in the House Dem Caucus and in 2003, was among the strongest Dem supporters of the war in Iraq in the House. And as of today, John Murtha has a new perspective on the war.

An influential House Democrat who voted for the Iraq war called Thursday for the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, another sign of growing unease in Congress about the conflict.

“This is the immediate redeployment of American forces because they have become the target,” said Rep. John Murtha, D-Pennsylvania, one of Congress’ most hawkish Democrats. At times during his remarks to reporters, the decorated Vietnam War veteran and former Marine was choking back tears.

“It is time for a change in direction. Our military is suffering, the future of our country is at risk. We cannot continue on the present course. It is evident that continued military action in Iraq is not in the best interests of the United States of America, the Iraqi people or the Persian Gulf region,” Murtha said.

Murtha, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations defense subcommittee, has earned bipartisan respect for his grasp of military issues over three decades in Congress…. “The war in Iraq is not going as advertised. It is a flawed policy wrapped in illusion,” Murtha said.

The last time Murtha criticized the war with a high-profile public announcement, House Republicans literally accused him of “giving aid and comfort to the enemy.”

But I don’t think that’s going to happen again now. National Review Online’s Kathryn Lopez Rod Dreher wrote this morning, “If tough, non-effete guys like Murtha are willing to go this far, and can make the case in ways that Red America can relate to…then the president is in big trouble. I’m sure there’s going to be an anti-Murtha pile-on in the conservative blogosphere, but from where I sit, conservatives would be fools not to take this man seriously.”

Murtha’s speech is online at his website. Take a look.

So being seen as a “tough, non-effete guy,” according to K-Lo, is a prerequisite for being taken seriously by right-wingers? The rationale behind the infamous Mission Accomplished codpiece becomes much clearer now.

  • First Bush bashes his detractors, and Chuck Hagel speaks out. Then Cheney roars his baloney, and Murtha decides he’s had enough. Do you get the feeling that people just aren’t buying into the WH line anymore? So are Bush and Cheney going to smear Hagel an Murtha by name now, call them spineless traitors like they do everyone else? I’d love to see them try!

  • He’s saying we’re out of gas, so we had better start praying we can make it home on the fumes, and furthermore, “the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq is impeding this progress.” so what are we waiting for?

  • Philly, Bingo! I was about to hit “Submit Comment” with virtually the same remark.

    I was only going to add that on Air America Randi Rhodes is increasingly remarking on the homoerotic/phobic character of much of the Bush Crime Family. Jeff Gannon appears to be tough and non-effete, too. And Ann Coulter. But then there’s Kenny Mehlman.

  • Murtha on Cheney:

    “I like guys who’ve never been there that criticize us who’ve been there. I like that. I like guys who got five deferments and never been there and send people to war, and then don’t like to hear suggestions about what needs to be done.”

    It’ll be interesting to see how the right tries to portray Murtha as being out of touch with the military.

  • The right-wing-nuts-crazies will still vilify Murtha for stating the obvious… They always do.

    It is a sad state when stating the obvious is both seen as revelatory by the sane and seen as traitorous by the insane.

  • Just so readers know, National Journal said the “non-effete guys like Murtha” quote came from K-Lo, but it turns out it came from her colleague Rod Dreher. I corrected the post.

  • By the way, in reference to posts #1 and #4, the NRO commentor who said those lines was Rod Dreher, not K-Lo.

    As for my take on the macho issue: Democrats have to deal with the reality that tough-sounding, unambiguously masculine men are very appealing to a not infsignificant portion of the country. Just because this is true doesn’t make it right. But if you’ve got a John Murtha or Paul Hackett, putting them front and center is just smart politics.

  • >>Democrats have to deal with the reality that tough-sounding, unambiguously masculine men are very appealing to a not infsignificant portion of the country.

  • If this isn’t the smackdown of the year, I don’t know what is…

    Vice President Dick Cheney jumped into the fray Wednesday by assailing Democrats who contend the Bush administration manipulated intelligence on Iraq, calling their criticism “one of the most dishonest and reprehensible charges ever aired in this city.”

    Murtha, a Marine intelligence officer in Vietnam, angrily shot back at Cheney: “I like guys who’ve never been there that criticize us who’ve been there. I like that. I like guys who got five deferments and never been there and send people to war, and then don’t like to hear suggestions about what needs to be done.”

    As my son would say, Cheney got served.

  • “non-effete” => Years later, Bush Jr. is still smarting over the “wimp” epsiode his father suffered through.

    Makes sense, the male cheerleaders I knew in college reacted exactly the same way, if they cared at all.

  • Looks like the ReThugs are doing exactly what NRO said they might not do: smearing Murtha as just another peacenik who wants to buddy up to the terrorists. This from the NYT today:

    “On Friday morning … his press secretary issued an unusually blistering statement responding to Representative John P. Murtha’s call for a pullout from Iraq, declaring that Mr. Murtha, a Pennsylvania Democrat who had often backed Mr. Bush’s military initiatives, was “endorsing the policy positions of Michael Moore and the extreme liberal wing of the Democratic Party.”

  • Lets do a reality check. Congressman J Murtha has been in congress since 1974. He retired from the Marine Corps “Reserves” in 1990 as a “Colonel.” One would have to assume he did not serve in VietNam as a Colonel as he was around 25 years old then. . I would like to know the highest rank he held on active duty.How many of his reserve promotions were obtained in the 16 years he was a US Congressman serving in the Marine Corp Reserves. PI promotions?? What do you think?? I think it is more just the “waving of a bloodshirt” ala John Kerry.

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